Caspase-8 acts as a tumor suppressor in chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis in mice

Background & Aims: Caspase-8 (Casp8) is the apical protease essential for the initiation of extrinsic apoptosis. A role of Casp8 for preventing Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) has been postulated. However, several studies revealed tumor suppressive, but also tumor promoting properties of Casp8 depending on the tissue environment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate if Casp8 inhibits HCC-development in the chemical model of diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis using conditional, hepatocyte-specific Casp8 knockout (Casp8Δhepa) mice. Methods: Casp8Δhepa mice and wildtype (Casp8f/f) c…